Page 7 of Secrets and S'mores
“She attempted to murder you when she first met you,” Slate says dryly. His mouth pulls into a grimace.
“That’s not exactly what happened,” Hazel argues.
My body leans back from her, one of my eyebrows rising. “Let’s not forget she stabbed me.” My free hand motions to the exposed scar across the bottom of my ribs.
My mother clicks her tongue, crossing the room to grab a sweatshirt. I smile at her fussing and slip it on obediently.
“It makes sense, politically. She’s their Heir, and Jasper is yours for now,” my father says. Hazel crosses her arms with a pointed look at her mate.
Slate settles back in his seat, acquiescing to his mate’s demands.
“Well, we can’t have her stay with Hawthorne. Not with how young his kids are,” Hazel says. “And Slate isn’t comfortable keeping her with us.”
“We aren’t home enough to supervise her properly.” His hand rests protectively on the back of her chair.
“So we’re hoping you’ll host her.” Hazel says, turning to my father. “You’re next in line, as our Delta. You have the space and there will be five of you to keep an eye on her.”
My father has taken all of this in without visible reaction, but I can almost hear his brain calculating the risk. As the pack’s trainer, he knows our people and our weaknesses better than anyone.
“Four of us,” he amends. “We’ll send Briar to stay with friends, and then Ember can stay in her room.”
“Good idea,” Hazel says, turning her sweetest smile on my mother. “Clove, I know this is a big imposition.”
“No, it would be an honor.”
“I really appreciate that,” Hazel says, her eyes crinkling as she smiles.
Brioche eaten, I consider grabbing another pastry. There’s a chocolate-studded scone calling my name and the sugar softens my surprise.
“Onyx,” Slate says. His tone commands my attention and I fight the instinct to cringe. It’s never good when he uses that voice on me.
“We’d like you to take the lead on guarding Ember during her stay with us. Vale can handle your tech duties for a few days, and we’ll change up the patrol rotation to free you up.”
Is he shitting me?
Thoughts of the scone dissolve as I rub my palm over my jaw. “Am I guarding her from our packmates? Or guarding them from her?”
“Both,” Slate says. It’s the diplomatic answer. We both know the latter is more likely to be necessary. “Are you up for it?”
“I’ll think about it. We don’t exactly get along.”
“I’m sure you can handle her.” Hazel squeezes my wrist and I already know I’ll agree. When she turns those big amber eyes on me, I’m a goner. No wonder Slate never says no to her.
“Thanks,” Slate says before smoothly transitioning the conversation to training topics. My father and my Alphas trade updates on recent developments and I tune out their voices.
My mind replays the feel of emerald hair brushing my cheek, her soft curves under my hands. It was supposed to be a thrill, just a bad decision in the dark. But now she’s coming here and staying in my home. Heat prickles over my skin at the thought.
Something is truly wrong with me if I’m excited by an enemy sleeping in the room across from mine. One with a soft mouth and soulful eyes who would very much like to hurt me. I’m fucked.
3 Fried Chicken & Attempted Flirting
Ember
Orion drives me to the parking lot, and I’m left to retrieve my duffel from the trunk before he peels out. He doesn’t even bother to say goodbye or make sure I’m well received. The disrespect ruffles me, but there’s nothing I can do.
Ahead, only the edge of the training building and the front of two office buildings are visible. Their community is sprawling compared to Granite Ridge’s tight rows of houses and facilities.
A single guard watches me as he raises his phone to his ear. Not exactly the welcome I was expecting. Posture rigid, I fix my starepast him.
